The City of Alexandria is considering a new ordinance that will prohibit (item 7) any new retail selling tobacco products within 1,00 feet of a child day center, public, private or parochial school.
The ban includes stores selling tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, alternative nicotine products or hemp products. The ban will only affect new businesses: those in operation before July 1 are grandfathered in.
The new ordinance follows the approval of House Bill 947 by the General Assembly in April, allowing any locality to enact such a prohibition.
A staff report said there are fifteen retailers with a principal use selling tobacco, nicotine vapor, alternative nicotine or hemp products that existed before July 1.
“Of that number, six operate more than 1,000 linear feet [from] a day care center or school,” the report said. “The remaining nine may continue to operate at the same locations until they close.”
The report said, however, those stores cannot expand, enlarge, or intensify in any way.
The prohibition is scheduled for review at the Planning Commission on Thursday, Nov. 7, and at the City Council on Saturday, Nov. 16.
